The World of Buddha

A Buddhist monk lighting devotional lamps

A young Buddhist Monk

Tomorrow, I am presenting a paper on Buddhism for a class at TEPSE. As of 2000 it is estimated that more than 350 million people in the world are Buddhist. It is a way of life for many areas of the world, but it is seeping into the western world as well. When we were in Chicago a couple of weekends ago, we were walking back to MBI from dinner and Chris told some people on the street that Jesus loved them. One girl, who was about 20 and did not look Asian at all, laughed, saying, "I am a Buddhist." That does not change the fact that Jesus loves her! So many times I see different cults and religions as unbiblical, which they are, but I fail to see that Christ loved and died for the people in them too. He wants to have a relationship with them. He would be just as saddened if they went to hell than if I or any "good person" did. 350 million may just be an estimate, but Christ knows exactly how many there are because He died for and intensely loves each and every one of them. Who, then, I am to judge and therefore not share the good news with them?

Numbering the Days

The TEPSE graduation is coming up this Friday, May 4th, at seven p.m. It is hard to believe that nine months have almost past since we first started classes back in August. Classes have been great, but the practical side of the school has been even better. I am glad that the Lord called me here! My mom and one of my sisters, Ashlyn, are going to be coming up on Thursday and staying through the weekend. I am excited about them coming and I am looking forward to showing them some of my favorite places in Michigan. When thinking about how fast "time flies" I am reminded of the words of the psalmist "O teach us to number our days that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom."

Chicago

Tonight I got back from a trip to Moody Bible Institute for a couple of days. A few of us went there to promote the seminar that we are going to be hosting there for the 14th-18th of May. We just hung out with students and talked to them about The Ezekiel Project. This morning I got to sit in on a chapel service. Was the chapel gorgeous! Prayerfully, many students will attend the seminar to learn how to affectively preach the gospel, in order to see lost souls come to Christ. The Institute is located in the heart of the city of Chicago. The fields are white and ready to harvest there. May many laborers rise up to the task!

"We are Awana Cubbies..."

Wayne with his elephant hat on for hat night.

The words above are the beginning of the Awana Cubbie theme song. This past school year I have been one of the leaders of this precious three and four-year-old group. It has been so much fun! Most Wednesday nights I come home to share some funny story about what one of them did that night. Many of them are going to kindergarten next year and therefore, will be moving up to Sparks. It has been amazing to see how fast they have grown up. Many of them at the beginning of the year could not write their own names and now they can, and very well at that! They also are staying in the lines when they color! I am proud of all that they have learned, but I hope that most of all they have learned the simple message of the gospel. I will not be with the same group next year, so I am taking as much in as I can over these next few weeks until the end of the year. These are some pictures of the kids.

Pretty Autumn

Cute and Fiery Lauren

Adorable Gina getting her vest.

Youth Group

Next this coming year I have the privilege of helping with the Varsity @ Calvary Bible Chapel. The picture to the left was taken a few weeks ago at a Crazy Hair, Laser Tag youth event. I have gotten to know many of the young ladies this past year and my prayer is that we all will become good friends. We have lots in store, and I am sure you will be seeing many of these faces more over the next several months. I thank the Lord for this opportunity!

Armada

This past week, Becca and I got an apartment in downtown Armada. Armada is a small town with a population of about 1,800. There is no light in the town, only a couple for-way stops. We are living above a book store right on the main corner. We love it! It was only about three miles from "the barn" on the Schroeder's property were we have class. I got this picture off of an Armada website and I believe on of those buildings is ours.
www.armadamichigan.com

This past weekend a group of us from the Ezekiel Project went to Chicago, the U.S.'s third largest city It was my first time to be there, and let me tell you it sure is a pretty city! We stayed at Moody Bible Institute and we talked to students about the seminar that we are going to be holding there next month. We also went into the open-air a couple of times, one of those times being with students from MBI. One of the places they preached was outside the Water Tower. It was Friday night, so the crowds were pretty large. We are going again this weekend to do the same thing.

Journal Entry during the Master's

Friday, April 6th

Today I meet a couple from Michigan who are saved. They were very encouraged by what we were doing and thus an encouragement to me. One of my favorite parts of doing the Mater’s outreach is working with and meeting fellow Christians. As the week has carried on, there have been more and more cars at out meeting spot on the mornings instead of less and less. How good it is to work along side those from the local church in evangelism! Some of the girls who sell waters up at the main gate are also believers, who I had the privilege of meeting last year and we reintroduced ourselves this year. It neat to see how the Lord worked in their lives this past year. God works in different peoples lives all over the world at the same time, but in different ways. He has used this week to remind me of that.